Doctor Jones' Picnic

by S. E. Chapman

"New York is considerably east of Washington," remarked the Doctor, looking over the map with Will. "I will tell you what we will do. If the wind continues as it now is we will go on to New York and await a favorable wind. What do you all think of that proposition?"

"Nothing could be more appropriate, since we must anchor, than that it should be at the metropolis of America," answered Professor Gray.

So it was agreed that they should make New York their next anchorage if possible. Along in the afternoon they were near the center of Pennsylvania and were approaching a large town. The people were evidently looking for them, for immense crowds could be seen gathered in many places.

"I think that I will send a telegram from here to the mayor of New York that we will try and make that city to-night. At what time should we arrive there at our present speed?" he inquired of Professor Gray.

The Professor consulted his watch and map a moment, and replied, "About eight o'clock this evening, Doctor."

The telegram was written accordingly. Silver Cloud descended to within four hundred feet of the earth, and when over the center of the city, the Doctor leaned over the balustrade and shouted, "Will you please forward this message for me?" As he said this he dropped the message, wrapped about a silver half dollar. One of the thousands of willing hands caught it, and a voice answered, "Aye, aye, Doctor Jones!"

"They all have your name, Doctor. You are the best known man in America to-day. And I doubt if there is one in the world so much talked of as you are," said Professor Gray.

"And that just shows how small a matter makes one famous. A few months ago I was an humble, inconsequential country doctor. My greatest delight and ambition at that time was to find the indicated remedy, and see the sick recover. And I declare to you now, that while I enjoy this racing through the skies, and the roar and acclamation of the multitudes, yet all these are but secondary and insignificant to my mind, when compared with that other great ambition of my life—the recognition by the medical world of the fact that there is an immutable law of God for our guidance in the selection of the remedy for the sick. And my daily prayer now is that my Father will keep me humble, so that he can use me to this end. For I tell you, friends," and the Doctor struck the table near him a mighty blow with his fist by way of emphasis, "that God can use no man who feels his own importance, and is inclined to take all the glory to himself. He is simply a weak-minded bungler, who gets into the way and frustrates whatever designs God might otherwise have worked through him."

The Doctor was upon his favorite theme—the propagandism of the peculiar system of medicine of which he was so faithful and successful a practitioner—and they had left the city far behind them, when he again paid attention to the rapidly changing scenery below. The wind had increased to a strong gale, and they were crossing the full length of Pennsylvania at astounding speed. They passed over the mountain ranges of the eastern part of the state, with as little concern or thought as if they had been level plain or water. So greatly had their speed accelerated, that by six o'clock the smoke of the great city was discernible immediately before them. The beautiful Hudson looked like a silver ribbon trending away to the north. New York bay with its shipping from all quarters of the earth, Liberty Lighting the World, the suspension bridge, and the tall buildings of the city, were all distinctly seen by the voyagers at a great distance. The booming of cannon announced to our friends that they had been sighted by those upon the lookout for them. A few moments later they had crossed the river and were skimming over the housetops, looking for an anchorage.

"There is Central Park. We shall pass over the south end of it. That is the place for us to drop anchor," said the Professor.